Set boundaries with coaches, kids

Here are some thoughts from my perspective - as a sports coach and father of a swimmer - regarding the youth swim coach arrested on charges of possessing child pornography.

1. There's a fine line between talking with your child and spooking him or her, but I suggest starting a conversation about all kinds of situations. Are there times when your child is alone with an adult? If so, does the door stay open, or is there a window? (As a coach, I never do one-on-ones in private spaces with an athlete. There's either another coach or another child present, or we sit in the bleachers.)

2. If your child participates in sports, band or other activities, make sure they're not at practice too early or too late. This is more about courtesy and respect for the coach than anything else, but there really shouldn't be a situation where an adult is left alone for a long time with a child.

3. When you register your child for an activity, ask about background checks. And if they don't run any, at least punch your coach's name in the Broward (clerk-17th-flcourts.org) or Palm Beach County Clerk of Courts (pbcountyclerk.com) Web sites.

Nick Sortal

This is an excerpt from the Sun Sentinel's parenting blog, SunSentinel.com/transparent.